Boys’ Night Out—sounds more like an ’80s punk band name to me. But you would be surprised how much fun you can actually have hanging out with the guys. Instead of just being bored on weeknights and on weekends sitting around watching reruns of Friends, get your real friends together and go have fun. You may be thinking, Oh, I’m broke; I can’t hang out tonight, or, I just don’t feel like hanging out; I want to be lazy. But the best part is, you don’t even have to spend money to have fun. Stop being lazy, call your best friends, and go have it. I know you’re wondering when I’ll stop rambling and get to the heart of the matter. These are a few ideas to maybe get the ball rolling in your head, and you can get creative next time you get the guys together.
This weekend, start by getting some crazy ideas from your friends of what they want to do. Perhaps go to your local Barnes & Noble bookstore and take about 30 minutes to go find three books that the titles describe your life at that moment in time. It’s interesting what you can find out about yourself and about your friends that you may have never known. It may sound kind of boring, but you’d be surprised. You can also go to the nearest sporting goods store before they close and get a foosball tournament going—it’s a blast, trust me. Maybe go hop on razor scooters and ride around the store playing tag … well, at least until you get kicked out.
If you and your friends are hanging out late and you get bored, go to In-N-Out and get the tastiest of tasty burgers. Or go to a nearby grocery store parking lot and play some ultimate Frisbee—it’s fun trying to dodge shopping carts and trying to catch a Frisbee all in one game. Another great way to hang out and fellowship is to make some peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, go to a park where there are homeless people and hand them out to them.
Another thing you might find interesting to do is to go paint balling. Maybe try announcing it in church.Get about 20 of your friends together, and have a blast shooting each other up. It’s a fun way to get out energy and aggression on those you love, and a good way to stay in shape. Hang out and go to the mountains with your friends and go tubing or sledding in the snow. It’s an awesome way to bring the kid out in yourself.
Taking time out with your true friends and hanging out allows you to grow as a person and to define yourself with friends. Friendships are one of the most precious gifts you will ever have. In John 15:13-15, Jesus says, “My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends. You are my friends if you do what I command. I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you.” In more simple terms, friends are meant to share life with, and honesty among friends is the greatest of all things.
So next time you are hanging out with your friends, just know that that quality time is essential. Don’t take advantage of the friendships you have, and you will be richly blessed by having those brothers in Christ.
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